SIXTIES pools winner Viv Nicholson, immortalised by her promise to "spend, spend, spend," will be in the audience when the play tracing her life graces a Lichfield stage.

Now in her 70s, the pensioner hit the headlines when she won #152,000 - estimated to be worth in the region of #2 million today - on the pools in the 1961.

When asked by the award presenter Bruce Forsyth what she planned to do with her winnings, she famously replied "I plan to spend, spend, spend," before blowing the lot in a few years.

Now Spend, Spend, Spend, the play charting her life, has come out of London's West End and is doing the rounds on the amateur circuit.

Lichfield Operatic Society will be the latest to perform the musical at the Lichfield Garrick.

Chairman Chris Turner, aged 47, of Four Oaks, has revealed Viv Nicholson has booked tickets to see one of the show performances but is sworn to secrecy by her as to which one it will be.

But Mr Turner admits there may be a few extra nerves on the night she is in the audience.

He said: "We are obviously absolutely delighted.

"To have the celebrity the show that you are performing is about in the audience will just be fantastic. It's something that doesn't happen every day of the week - and in some cases never. So for us this is a real honour.

"She is definitely coming, her tickets are all booked, but she wants to keep the actual date quiet.

"Some of the cast don't know which night she'll be there yet either."

The musical will run from tomorrow until Saturday. For tickets telephone 01543 412121.